PARADISE VALLEY STAYCATION

One of the plus sides of living in such a beautiful part of the country is that everyone wants to vacation here. The dry climate and desert beauty lends itself to be a desert oasis for the rest of the U.S.A. living in the cold during the autumn, winter and early spring months. The resorts and spas are plentiful here, and one of the best resorts in the Valley is Mountain Shadows. 

It's a new resort with a very old history that dates back to the Rat Pack days. The original resort was demolished and this new resort (its namesake) was built in its place. The modern architecture and interiors pay homage to the mid-century history of the previous resort while bringing the resort into the 21st century with contemporary elements as well. It's STUNNING to say the least. If you're a mcm architecture lover you will enjoy the space a lot.

One of the Arizonan secrets is to plan a staycation during the off-season if you really want to enjoy peace and quiet. The pace is slower in the summer due to the heat, but it's really optimal weather to spend an entire day poolside. So, Mountain Shadows invited me to come and relax enjoy a much needed girls weekend with a couple close friends to experience all the resort has to offer. 

Everything from the moment I stepped out of my car to the moment I left was top notch. When I walked into my room was I was stunned by how beautiful it was. Each room has a patio with beautiful views. The resort is nestled between two mountains, so I mean it when I say there isn't a bad view. 

On Friday night, we enjoyed appetizers and drinks at The Living Room (their bar) where they had the best live music. I swear I thought John Mayer was in concert the band was so good. They usually have live music Friday and Saturday nights if you ever just want to go to the bar for a date night. The service was lovely and the food was outstanding. Most everything is locally sourced and the menu is constantly changing to reflect the seasons and freshness of the local produce. We shared a yummy beet salad, burrata and chip and guacamole while we talked for hours with some wine in hand. 

I forgot how it felt to not have a care in the world and just hang with friends. I really haven't done anything like since becoming a mom. If you're in a similar position, I highly recommend carving out the time to plan a trip with some friends once in awhile.

We didn't have to wake up early the next morning, so why not stay out all night long. We went to bed around 11pm (late for me) and I woke up at 7am and enjoyed a slow morning with Rennai. We had some Press coffee and lounged outdoors listening to birds and people watching. 

I had every intention of enjoying a yoga class that morning. So we wandered over to their top of the line fitness center to wait for the class to start. I stretched and took in the peace and quiet, but I started not to feel so great, and thinking perhaps my stomach just needed some food, we moved up our brunch reservations and ate some oatmeal and eggs at Hearth '61. 

It was SO GOOD! Just what the doctor ordered. I highly recommend their oatmeal or eggs Benedict. Although be sure to read the post until the end because I had the most amazing pancakes in my entire life there too. 

After brunch we got our suits on and headed for the pool. If I was going to lay down all day I may as well do it by the water, right? And that's exactly what we did. We had a very lazy day and just talked for hours while we sipped watermelon juice. It was so good for the soul. 

The poolside service was excellent. They had towels waiting for you on every chair and plenty of umbrellas and cabanas for your comfort. We saw families with little babies to adults on romantic getaways. Your view is of Camelback Mountain the entire time, and there are two pools (one higher and one lower), so there is plenty of space for everyone. 

After the pool we washed up to get ready for dinner at Hearth '61. But, at that point, I really started to feel sick.  It turns out that I caught the stomach bug from my daughter (she had been sick the night before I left). I was so bummed that I couldn't go to dinner with all of my girlfriends, but I sent them to a night out anyway. I told them to report back all of their favorite foods they savored. 

The girls shared a nice bottle of red wine, and started out with a taste of street corn with ricotta salata, chipotle aioli and popcorn courtesy of the Chef Alfred. The presentation was gorgeous. 

The gals had a big appetite, and were completely sold on the idea of splitting a 40 ounce steak (yeah, you read that right). See, this is what happens when I am not there. Haha! I never would have thought to order that, but after hearing about how amazing this Niman Ranch tomahawk rib-eye was I think I need to go back and try it for myself. It came with rosemary truffle butter (oh my gosh). Need I say more? 

The also enjoyed sides of carrots with tahini yogurt chevre and polenta a la plancha with creme fraiche and basil. 

Dessert stole the show though because they got to try every dessert on the menu. They tried peanut butter mousse, molten lava cake, brioche bread pudding, and the vanilla lavender panna cotta. 

I couldn't believe they had room to try all of the those, but I guess when it tastes that good you make room for it. They told me hands down the peanut butter mousse and the bread pudding were the best. So, if you visit be sure to try those.

While they had a night out I went to bed at 7pm and woke up at 7am still feeling nauseous, but not enough to detour me from eating breakfast. We headed down to enjoy some pancakes and eggs. I didn't finish every bite, but what I did savor was out of this world.

Bacon pistachio pancakes you guys! Need I say more? Best pancakes of my life. I would go to brunch at Hearth '61 any day for these. 

It sure was a tasty end to the getaway. And even though things didn't go as planned for me, the hotel was so beautiful it was actually the best place for me to simply relax and heal. 

As a interior design and architecture lover this is hands down my favorite hotel in the Phoenix area right now. It's pure luxury, super sexy and high end. I would highly recommend Mountain Shadows to guests visiting Arizona, as well as couples looking for a getaway. Be sure to check out their website for their summer rates. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; accommodations were covered by the hotel as payment. 

GIFTS FOR THE TRAVELING DAD

Ryan's new job requires him to travel at least once a month, so this Father's Day I thought it would be great to give him gifts that make his travels feel more comfortable and stylish. I found so many great gifts on Amara.com. They are a retail site that specializes in luxury style and customer service. The site is curated so well it takes only seconds to find something "gift worthy." 

In fact, to make things easier for you this Father's Day they have a quiz that will help you figure out which kind of gifts your guy would love. It's a helpful starting point if you are a bit lost. (find the survey at the end of the post). 

For Ryan, however, no survey was needed because I knew there were certain travel essentials he would love. On our recent trip to New York City, he mentioned he really wanted a quality weekender bag. So, I got him this Bric's olive green (looks very brown in person), leather holdall bag. It's beautiful! I may have to steal it when I go out of town next. It's quality from top to bottom, and will be the perfect carry-on for short strips to Santa Barbara. 

Given that he works for Sonos and is a total audiophile, quality headphones for the on-the-go listening experience were an obvious gift as well. He has tiny ear buds, but they aren't the most comfortable things to wear for long flights. So, these KREAFUNK headphones will make him very happy. I'm a sucker for good packaging and design, and the box alone is pretty enough to simply put a bow on. 

If you have seen my latest cocktail series with Barrel Aged Dad, you know that Ryan is a lover of a good craft cocktail. A gin and tonic is Ryan's summertime cocktail of choice. Amara sells these adorable travel bar kits that include a jigger, linen napkin, tonic syrup, and a bar spoon. Just add alcohol and you are set (or jet set, rather). 

Lastly, to help Ryan feel like he has a piece of home with him, I thought a quality pair of UGG slippers would be the perfect touch. I have a pair myself, and they are the most comfortable things in the world. After a long day on my feet I love to slide my slippers on, and now he can too. 

All of these gifts took me only five minutes to find. Be sure to check out Amara.com for Father's Day or anytime you're on the hunt for the perfect gift. And take the survey below to get you started on your gift hunt:

Find out more about #DrinkWithDad at Amara.

This post is sponsored by Amara. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Product was given as payment for this post. Photos by Rennai Hoefer. 

WELLNESS UPDATE

In March, I started a wellness journey that has truly transformed my life. What began with just trying to feel strong and be more active with pilates has become a full life change for me. In the process of establishing a regular fitness routine at Core Body Pilates, I found out that my ANA levels were high which is an indicator of an auto-immune issue. I'm no stranger to autoimmune problems with a history of Hashimotos disease and rheumatoid arthritis, but up until now I thought my inflammation had been under-control. I was wrong.

I discovered these high levels after seeking help from a dermatologist about some unexpected hair loss. And though I was glad my hair falling wasn't due to aging, I was bummed to find out that my hair loss is most likely related to another auto-immune issue. UGH! 

I have made an appointment with a rheumatologist per the recommendation of my dermatologist and primary care doctor to find out what else is going on, but I know that often steroids are prescribed to bring down inflammation. I really would like to avoid steroids, so I've started trying to see how my diet could also help lower inflammation in my body. And after a lot of research and asking others who have similar diagnoses, I have decided to be gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free for a minimum of six months to see if it really changes my inflammation (loosing following the auto-immune protocol diet).

I started these dietary restrictions at the beginning of May, and it surprisingly hasn't been too hard to do. I will say that traveling makes it much more difficult to stick to though. Cooking at home and preparing snacks and meals ahead of time is really key to this new lifestyle (be sure to follow my Recipes to Try board to see what I'm making). In the process I feel as though our family is healthier because they eat what I make, and eating out isn't as tempting. Overall, I feel a lot healthier already. I had no idea how many crackers and pieces of bread I was filling my body with instead of healthy proteins and veggies.

My stress levels and my joint pain have been non-existent. It's crazy! I can't say that I know it's indefinitely due to the diet change, but it's a possibility I'm not ruling out. I'm also down from 140 to 130 with more muscle.  This is seriously a surprise to me because with all of the sickness that has been in our house, all of the travel and busy schedules my stress levels should be even higher. Nope!

I'll be sure to continue to update you guys at the end of June when my fitness challenge has been completed and my ANA levels are tested again. If you are a in a similar boat as me with auto-immune issues I would encourage you to start this journey as well. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

GIRL ROOM UPDATE

When we moved into this house we assigned bedrooms to the kids based on size and proximity to our room. We put Elle the furthest away because she can be a bit of a light sleeper and it seemed like the quietest spot in the house (click to see Elle's original room). What we didn't factor in was that her room was the hottest of the bunch. It's above our garage and three of the four walls are exposed to sun. In the 100 degree temps it heats up pretty quickly. She had been complaining it was too hot at night, so we decided to switch her to our upstairs guest room. 

Though I loved her room the way it was her furniture worked perfectly with the pineapple wallpaper in the guest room. The pink flowers printed on the wall are the exact shade of pink as her duvet cover. And to my surprise, Elle loves this room even more than her previous one. She said it feels cozy. Music to my ears!

We hung up art work above her bed, kept her steamer trunks as a side table and used the marble and brass bookcase to store all of her books. I love how girly and feminine it looks together. It really is perfect for a little girl.

Art from The Land of Nod
Rug from The Land of Nod (discontinued)
Duvet from The Land of Nod
Bed from IKEA
Pillows from The Land of Nod
Steamer trunks, family heirloom
Wallpaper by Hygge & West
Chandelier from Living Spaces
Bookcase from Living Spaces
Unicorn from The Land of Nod
Pouf from Living Spaces

This post contains affiliate links; photos by Rennai Hoefer

MARRIAGE ADVICE TO MYSELF

Dear Alex, 

Today, May 19th, is indeed a monumental, life-changing day for you, and you sure are one beautiful bride. And as the excitement and nerves run through your veins anticipating the lifelong commitment you are about to make, I thought I would put you at ease and let you know that 10 years from now you'll be celebrating this day in New York City with Ryan by your side. You have some wrinkles and some gray hair, but you I swear you look hotter than ever. You also have two beautiful kids (one boy and one girl) and you're living your dreams of styling professionally. Your life looks picture perfect in many ways - a dream life - if you will. It's a life worth celebrating and being thankful for every day. But, I won't fool you that the road to this 10 year anniversary has not been smooth. In fact, it has been very rocky.

You and Ryan are still standing, but there were times when you weren't sure if you were going to make it to "death 'til us part." So, I thought I would share with you some advice in hopes of sparing you pain.

Alex, up until this point, you were unsure if you ever wanted to put on a wedding dress, but when you met Ryan all of that changed. He is a person that believes and you and makes you feel important. He is so kind and patient. He possesses many qualities that you have dreamed of a man having. But you are also looking for someone that will love you unconditionally no matter your flaws, and I have to tell you that isn't the man standing before you. In fact, what you seek no man can fill. It's an unreasonable expectation that will cause you pain. Only God will be able to fill this in you. And instead, you are about to let each other learn and know one another so intimately that when either of you make a mistake it will hurt more than anyone else hurting you.  Your marriage is actually the complete opposite of unconditional love. It's set on a series of conditions to make it work (to have, to hold, to honor, to respect, to cherish, to obey, to love, to be truthful, to be faithful). So, my first piece of advice, is to go and heal the pain that you are carrying because much of your expectations and fears are derived from hurt that you never want to repeat. It's better to heal that now than later. Trust me. You need to know you are enough without a list of accolades beside your name, without your parents or anyone else saying you are enough.

My second piece of advice is to learn how to forgive, how to ask for forgiveness, and how to turn away from your old habits when the conditions on which you have founded your marriage are broken. Despite what people may tell you, no amount date nights, endless talks on the couch, sex, quality time, counseling, supporting friends or acts of service can fully mend and support your marriage if you don't know how to handle mistakes. Sure they help and are a part of marriage, but only forgiveness, grace, repentance, trust and love can heal how you hurt one another. And, unfortunately, mistakes are inevitable. 

But here's the good news...You both have gone to the end of yourselves to find hope and healing for the mistakes you have made. You both are committed to doing whatever it takes to heal the hurt within yourselves and to forgive one another as God has forgiven you. It is truly a beautiful sight to see. It's what makes your marriage strong and victorious.

Sure, you're a bit bruised, the radiance somewhat lackluster. You have some scars, but you're also BAD ASS. You've stared failure in the face and said, "Not today." You and Ryan are stronger than ever. So, walk down that aisle with confidence and joy (like you will) and celebrate and never stop celebrating. 

Oh, and P.S., you're going to regret a lot of the wedding decor choices you have made today because this new app called Pinterest is going to change your life in more ways than one. (wink, wink). So, just have a small wedding and save the rest of your money for those kids you'll be having five years later.

INTERSECT by Alex Evjen

Two finite lines, two directions
Collide at an intersection
Two become one, but stay the same
And head on a crash course of disarray
Overlapping, overpassing
With no directions or asking
They come to a halt, they breakdown
But turn to each other when life is upside down
And they mend, they meet
Face to face, feet to feet
No longer parallel
They know one another well
Now bold, finite beings
They grow old with meaning
On a course of unknown
Two lines are now one